After 17 glorious years in San Francisco, the Academy of Science's beloved albino alligator, Claude, passed away. He was 30 years old. Kasia Pawlowska is an award-winning writer and SFGATE's local editor. She lives in San Francisco's Sunset District with her husband and dog. Send her an email at [email protected].

A necropsy has revealed the apparent cause of death of Claude, the beloved albino alligator and unofficial mascot of the California Academy of Sciences in.

From underdog to heartthrob, Claude the albino alligator's Hollywood-worthy story is a symbol of the city itself.